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The Big Trees Register, 2002-2003
American Forests, founded in 1875, is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States. American Forests publishes American Forests Magazine quarterly and is also known for promoting the National Register of Big Trees which comes out every other year.
The 2002- 2003 Register is now included in the Spring issue of American Forests Magazine.
American Forests has been the keeper of the register since 1940 when forester Joseph Stearns said: "Let every tree lover, every forester, every lumberman rally ... to fight for the preservation of our biggest tree specimens." Since then, the register has turned into an institution with big tree coordinators in all 50 states and a group of big tree hunters always on the lookout for new champion trees.
The Davey Tree Expert Company sponsors the program. A spokesman from Davey says, "The Davey Tree Expert Company is proud of its affiliation with American Forests - another organization that cares about, and for, trees. We are particularly honored to have been the national sponsor of The National Register of Big Trees for the last 10 years."
This register, in the latest issue National Register of Big Trees - 2002-2003, celebrates its 62nd year with an impressive 826 national champion trees. They are found in national forests, parks, private forests and backyards in nearly every state across America. For the first time, this year, the National Register of Big Trees is available online and features a big tree database searchable by height, width, circumference, crown spread, points, species, and state.
Most states have big tree or champion tree programs (see Oregon) and publish their own lists (I nominated the largest Alabama champion black willow and it stands today). "The competition among states and big tree hunters often is fierce" according to American Forests. "Especially when the title for an official State Tree is held by a different state." These "hunters" are out to dethrone the national trees of record with their own nominations. They even remeasure existing ones to challenge any errors that might have been made.
Eligible trees must be native or naturalized in the continental United States (including Alaska, but not Hawaii). They are listed in Check List of Native & Naturalized Trees of the United States, written by Dr. Elbert L. Little, Jr., former chief dendrologist of the U.S. Forest Service (see my review on his excellent tree id book).
These champion trees are measured mostly by foresters, rangers, or big tree hunters who submit nominations to American Forests or the state big tree coordinators. A free brochure with rules for measuring and nominating trees is available from American Forests or through your state forester. You can also download the official tree nomination form.
The hunt is never over because national champs are only the biggest known so far. Every year new champions are crowned and others dethroned. Since the last Register, 41 former champs either died of natural causes (winds storms, lightning, fire and disease) or man-caused. There are only 4 trees remaining from the original "Class of 1940" list.
An American Forests
press release says "Since the 2000 Register, 118 new national champion trees have
been crowned, while 138 champs were dethroned, for a total of 884 champion and co-champion
trees in this year’s register. Georgia had the most new champs with 15, followed by
California (14), Arizona (12), Tennessee (11), and Florida (10). After dethroned champs
are factored in, Georgia had a net gain of 8, while Ohio’s list grew by 6 and Oregon’s
by 4. Florida has the most arboreal giants of any state with 169, then California (97),
Arizona (70), Texas (69), and Virginia (56)."
More stuff on big trees....
The National
Register of Big Trees
Find every "big tree" listed by species, state and score.
The Champion Tree Project International
"The Project is sustained by the contributions of its members. Each membership in The
Champion Tree Project
is another Champion Tree preserved."
The Champion Tree Project
International List
A partial listing of Champion Trees with photos.
More stuff on identifying trees....
Tree ID from About Forestry
